Adjustably extensible automatically retracting hanger for purses and similar articles



May 12, 1964 E, JR 3,132,832

ADJUSTABLY EXTENSIBLE AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTING HANGER FOR PURSES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed June 6, 1962 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,132,832 ADJUSTABLY EXTENSIBLE AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTING HANGER FQR PURES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES Harry Kore, .lr., 2040 Lorraine Road, Reading, Pa. Filed June 6, 1962, Ser. No. 290,585 28 Claims. (Cl. 248307) This invention relates generally to an article hanger and, specifically, to an adjustably extensible automatically retracting hanger adapted to be secured to the underside of tables or the like and to support purses or similar articles.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 151,480, filed November 10, 1961, now abandoned.

The restaurant industry and other similar industries have long felt the need for a simple and inexpensive hanger for the individual use of a patron, which hanger is simply constructed and inexpensive incost, requiring practically no maintenance and occupying minimum space, which hanger is easily operated by a patron to securely hold purses and similar articles at the side of and in full view of the patron, and which hanger does not interfere with the patrons sitting down or arising.

The present invention provides such an article hanger which is pulled out by the patron against the force of a spring from a position beneath the top of a table or counter, is held in such extended or pulled-out position by the weight of the article supported, and automatically retracts to inoperative position beneath said table top or counter top upon removal of the article supported.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive article hanger.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an article hanger occupying minimum space beneath a table top or counter top, and which is easily operated by a patron to securely hold purses and similar articles at the side of and in full view of the patron, which article hanger does not interfere with the patrons sitting down or arismg.

A further object of this invention is to provide such an article hanger which is pulled out by the patron against the force of a spring from a position beneath the top of a table or counter, which hanger is held in such extended or pulled-out position by the weight of the article sup ported, and which hanger automatically retracts to in-= operative position beneath the table top or counter top upon removal of the article supported.

Still other and further objects will become apparent during the course of the following description.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 represents a side elevation of the article hanger secured beneath a table top, showing in phantom a purse and the slide of the said article hanger extended and sup porting the said purse.

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged side elevation, partly in section and broken away, showing details of construction of the article hanger.

FIG. 3 represents an enlarged end elevation of the article hanger as viewed from the left of FIG. 2, show- It will be understood that articles other than said articles that may be received by the said hanger 1. It will be further understood that, where the lower sur face of top 2 is irregular, suitable shims may be pro vided between the lower surface of top 2 and the hanger 1; further, the said hanger 1 may also be supported from the table legs or counter sides in a manner obvious to those skilled in this art.

Article hanger 1 is seen as comprising outer tubular member 5, internally threaded at 6 at inner end 7 there of, and provided, or formed in the preferred embodiment, with brackets 8, which latter may be secured to the lower surface of top 2 as shown in the drawings. Inner tubular member 9 is slidably mounted in hollow bore 10 of outer tubular member 5 for telescopic movement relative thereto. Locking pin 11 is threaded into, or other wise secured to, inner tubular member 9 adjacent the inner end 12 thereof, and extends into longitudinal slot 13 of outer tubular member 5, the clearance between slot 13 and pin 11 being suflicient to permit pin 11 to ride in slot 13 longitudinally of the said outer tubular member 5 from one end to the other of slot 13. As seen particu larly in FIG. 1, slot 13 is provided with a series of depressions or indentations 14 spaced along the lower edge thereof.

In the preferred embodiment, indentations 14 are semi circular or just less than semi-circular in cross-section, and may be of dimension suflicient to receive pin 11 therein, viz., the diameter of the indentations 14 may be equal to, or slightly greater than, the diameter of pin 11. It shall be understood, however, that indentations 14 of other dimensions and shapes may also be used.

Cap 15, with support arm 16 secured thereto or, in the preferred embodiment, formed integrally therewith, is provided with male threaded portion 17 adapted to be screwed into thretaded portion 18 at the outer end 19 of inner tubular member 9. Cap 20, with male threaded portion 21, is screwed into threads 6 at inner end 7 of outer tubular member 5. Caps 15 and 20 are provided,

' respectively, with spring-retaining lugs 22 and 23 holding spring 24 in tension. It will be seen that spring 24 extends through bore 10 of outer tubular member 5 and through bore 25 of inner tubular member 9. Further, spring 24 urges tubular members 5 land 9 to completely closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, rubber washer 26 being provided in the preferred embodiment between cap 15 and the outer end 27 of outer tubular member 5 to act as a shock-absorber to take up the impact of inner tubular member 9" when retracted into outer tubular member 5 by spring 24.

Where indentations 14- are semi-circular in shape, or have configurations similar thereto, it is preferred that spring 24 be placed inoperative position between caps 15 and 20 with a slight twist or bias tending to rotate support arm 16 counterclockwise (as viewed from FIG. 3) and thereby to urge locking pin 11 out of any of the indentations 14 into which it may be placed, unless said locking pin 11 is held in such indentation 14 by the Weight of a purse or similar article on support 16. Where, as in the preferred embodiment, cap 20 is threaded into position, this counterclockwise twist (as viewed from FIG. 3) maybe imparted to spring 24 by rotating cap 20 (and spring 24 attached thereto) several times in a direction opposite to the direction of the thread of said cap 241, and then threading cap 20 into position, so that when cap 29 is finally threaded home, the net bias in spring 24 is slightly counterclockwise (as viewed from FIG. 3) to produce the desired effect. Other ways of producing the counterclockwise bias (as viewed from FIG. 3) will immediately present themselves to those familiar with ,this

art.

Where indentations 14 are of other shapes, having for instance gently sloping sidesfacing towards cap 20,

is spring 14 may not necessarily require a counterclockwise (as viewed from FIG. 3) twist or bias.

Article hanger 1 is mounted below top 2 in such position as to place cap and support arm 16 behind the front edge 28 of the said top 2. A patron grasps support arm 16, pulls out the same a convenient distance against the force of spring 24, and loops strap 4 of purse 3 (shown as typical of the type of article contemplated as supported by the present invention) over lug 29 and on to support arm 16. The weight of purse 3 exercises a torque on inner tubular member 9 causing pin ii to ride down into an indentation 14 (if pin M is not directly over an indentation 14 when the purse 3 is placed on support arm 16, spring 2- will pull inner tubular member 9 rearwardly until the pin It lies over and descends into the next rearward indentation 14). The weight or" purse 3 applied to support arm 16 is suificient to keep pin 11 in indentation 14, and thereby to restrain inner tubular element 9 in extended locked position, against the force of spring 24. The positions of inner tubular element 9, pin 11, support arm 16, cap 15 and rubber Washer 26, in such extended locked position, are shown respectively by the numerals 9', 11', 16, 15' and 26 in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the patron desires to retrieve the purse 3, the same is removed from support arm 16. Upon removal of this weight, spring 24 automatically causes pin 11 to ride up out of indentation M and retracts inner tubular member 9 into closed inoperative position below top 2.

While I have shown the best embodiment of my invention known to me, I do not wish to be limited to the exact structure shown and described, but may use such modifications, substitutes and equivalents as are embraced within the scope of the specification and claims.

I claim:

I. An extensible automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising:

(a) a first horizontal hollow elongated member adapted to be secured to said structure,

(b) a second horizontal hollow elongated member slidably mounted in said first horizontal hollow elongated member,

(c) spring means operatively interposed between and within said first and second horizontal hollow elongated members to retract said second horizontal hollow elongated member into said first horizontal hollow elongated member,

(d) a longitudinal slot in said first horizontal hollow elongated member,

(e) a recess in a longitudinal edge of said slot,

(1) a pin secured to said second horizontal hollow elongated member and extending into said longitudinal slot of said first horizontal hollow elongated member for movement in said slot longitudinally of said first horizontal hollow elongated member, said pin being adapted to be seated in said recess when said second horizontal hollow elongated member is partially withdrawn from said first horizontal hollow elongated member, and

(g) an arm secured to one end of said second horizontal hollow elongated member projecting to one side thereof and adapted to support the article and thereby to exercise a torque on said second horizontal hollow elongated member to maintain said pin in said recess against the force of said spring means,

(/2) the force of said spring means being sufiicient to unseat said pin from said recess and retract the second horizontal hollow elongated member when said article is removed from saidarm.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first horizontal hollow elongated member.

3. Apparatus as in claim l,'further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second horizontal hollow elongated member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first horizontal hollow elongated member.

4-. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including:

said recess being provided on the lower longitudinal edge of said slot, and

said arm projecting from that side of said second horizontal hollow elongated member to which said pin is secured.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first horizontal hollow elongated member.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second horizontal hollow elongated member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first horizontal hollow elongated member.

7. An adjustably extensible automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising:

(a) a first horizontal tubular member adapted to be secured to said structure,

(b) a second horizontal tubular member slidably mounted in said first horizontal tubular member,

(0) spring means operatively interposed between and within said first and second horizontal tubular members to retract said second horizontal tubular member into said first horizontal tubular member,

(d) a longitudinal slot in said first horizontal tubular member,

(e) a plurality of spaced recesses in a longitudinal edge of said slot,

(f) a pin secured to said second horizontal tubular member for movement in said slot longitudinally of said first horizontal tubular member, said pin being adapted to be seated in a selected recess when said second horizontal tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first horizontal tubular member, and

(g) an arm secured to one end of said second horizontal tubular member projecting to one side thereof and adapted to support the article and thereby to exercize a torque on said second horizontal tubular member to maintain said pin in a selected recess against the force of said spring means,

(11) the force of said spring means being sufiicient to unseat said pin from said selected recess and retract the second horizontal tubular member when said article is removed from said arm.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first horizontal tubular member.

9. Apparatus as in claim 7, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said-second horizontal tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first horizontal tubular member.

10. Apparatus as in claim 7, further including:

said spaced recesses being provided on the lower longitudinal edge of said slot, and

said arm projecting from that side of said second horizontal tubular member to which said pin is secured.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first horizontal tubular member.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second'ho'rizontal tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first horizontal tubular member.

13. An adjustably extensible automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising:

(a) a first hollow tubular member adapted to be secured to said structure, 7

(b) a second hollow tubular member slidably mounted in said first hollow tubular member,

(c) a longitudinal slot in said first hollow tubular member,

(d) a plurality of spaced recesses in a longitudinal edge of said slot,

(e) a pin secured to said second hollow tubular member for movement in said slot longitudinally of said first hollow tubular member, said pin being adapted to be seated in a selected recess when said second hollow tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first hollow tubular member,

(f) an arm secured to one end of said second hollow tubular member projecting to one side thereof and adapted to receive the-article to be supported, and

(g) spring means operatively interposed between and within said first and second hollow tubular members to retract said second hollow tubular member into said first hollow tubular member,

(11) said spring means having a rotary bias tending to rotate said second hollow tubular member in said first hollow tubular member and thereby to urge said pin out of any of said spaced recesses,

(1) whereby the weight of said article on said arm when said second hollow tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first hollow tubular member exercises a torque of magnitude sufiicient to overcome the rotary bias of said spring means to maintain said pin in a selected recess against the force of said spring means, said spring means tending to unseat said pin from the selected recess and retract the second hollow tubular member into the first hollow tubular member when said article is removed from said arm.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first hollow tubular member.

15. Apparatus as in claim 13, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second hollow tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first hollow tubular member.

16. Apparatus as in claim 13, further including:

said spaced recesses being providedon the lower longitudinal edge of said slot, and

said arm projecting from that side of said second hollow tubular member to which said pin is secured.-

17. Apparatus as in claim 16, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first hollow tubular member.

18. Apparatus as in claim 16, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second hollow tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first hollow tubular member.

19. An extensible automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising:

in said recess when said second tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first tubular member,

(1) an arm secured to one end of said second tubular (/1) said spring means having a rotary bias tending bias of said spring means to maintain said pin in said recess against the force of said spring means, said spring means tending to unseat said-pin from said recess and retract the second tubular member into the first tubular member when said article is removed from said arm.

20.. Apparatus asin claim 19, further including:

" shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first tubular member. 21. Apparatus as in claim 19, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first tubular member.

22. Apparatus as in claim 19, further including:

said spaced recesses being provided on the lower longitudinal edge of said slot, and

said arm projecting from that side of said second tubular member to which said pin is secured.

23. Apparatus as in claim 22, further including:

shock absorber means operatively interposed between said arm and said first tubular member.

24. Apparatus as in claim 22, further including:

a rubber washer mounted to said second tubular member adjacent said arm and between said arm and said first tubular member.

25. An extensible automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising:

(a) a first horizontal tubular member adapted to be secured to said structure,

(b) a second horizontal tubular member telescopically mounted within said first horizontal tubular member,

(a) spring means operatively interposed between said first and second horizontal tubular members to retract said second horizontal tubular member into said first horizontal tubular member,

(d) a longitudinal slot in said first horizontal tubular member,

(e) a recess in a longitudinal edge of said slot,

(f) a pin secured to said second horizontal tubular member and extending into said longitudinal slot of said first horizontal tubular member, said pin being adapted to be seated in said recess when said second horizontal tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first horizontal tubular member,

(g) article-supporting lever means secured to one end of said second horizontal tubular member projecting to one side thereof and adapted to exercise a torque on said second horizontal tubular member to maintain said pin in said recess against the force of said spring means,

(h) the force of said spring means being sufiicient to unseat said pin from said recess and retract the second horizontal tubular member when said article is removed from said article-supporting lever means.

26. Apparatus as in claim 25,

said spring means having a rotary bias tending to rotate said second horizontal tubular member in said first horizontal tubular member thereby to urge said pin out of-saidrecess.

l 27. An adjustably extensible-automatically retracting hanger for supporting an article such as a purse or the like from a structure, comprising: I

(a) a first tubular member adapted to be secured in horizontal position to said structure,

(b) a second tubular member telescopically. mounted within said first tubular member,

(c) elastic means operatively interposed between said first 'andsecond tubular members to retract said second tubular member into, said first tubular member,

(d) a longitudinal slot in said first tubular member,

(e) a plurality of spaced recesses, in a longitudinal edge of said slot,

(f) a pin secured to said second tubular member for movement in said slot longitudinally of said first tubular member, said-pin being adapted to be seated in a selected recess when said second tubular member is partially withdrawn from said first tubular member,

(g) article-supporting lever means secured to one end of said second tubular member projecting to one side thereof and adapted to exercise a torque on said second tubular member to maintain said pin in said selected recess against the force of said elastic means,

(h) the force of said elastic means being sufficient to unseatsaid pin from said selected recess and retract the second tubular member when said article is removed from said article-supporting lever means.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27,

said elastic means having a rotary bias tending to rotate said second tubular member in said first tubular member thereby to urge said pin out of said selected recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,242,125 Bean Oct. 9, 1917 2,037,098 Taylor et al Apr. 14, 1936 2,780,277 Ries et al. Feb. 5,1957

FOREIGN PATENTS 135,655 Sweden May 6, 1952 

1. AN EXTENSIBLE AUTOMATICALLY RETRACTING HANGER FOR SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE SUCH AS A PURSE OR THE LIKE FROM A STRUCTURE, COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID STRUCTURE, (B) A SECOND HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER, (C) SPRING MEANS OPERATIVELY INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND WITHIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBERS TO RETRACT SAID SECOND HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER INTO SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER, (D) A LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN SAID FIRST HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ELONGATED MEMBER, (E) A RECESS IN A LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID SLOT, 